ULTRAVIOLET TECHNOLOGY IN THE TIME OF EPIDEMICS
MINA PENCHEVA1, VERA GLEDACHEVA1, GEORGI VASILEV2,
DIMITRIOS MALOGIANNIS3, CHARILAOS XENODOCHIDIS1*
1Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Plovdiv
2Student of Medicine at the Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria
3Student of Dental Medicine at the Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria
* Corresponding author: H.Ksenodohidis@mu-plovdiv.bg
Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Disinfection, UV-light, UV lamp
Abstract: Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemics, the priority worldwide was to minimize the spread of the virus. Ultraviolet (UV) light has proven a trustworthy solution against various ranges of health disorders and in the inactivation of viruses. Wavelengths between 254 nm and 265 nm from the electromagnetic spectrum are used for the deactivation of viruses, bacteria and fungi. In that sense, UV light can be proven efficient against SARS-CoV-2 transmission due to its germicidal effect. UVC light can damage the virus ribonucleic acid (RNA) and hence prevent its replication. Likewise, the development of a disease can be avoided. This study aims an objective assessment of UV light implementation in SARS-CoV-2 disinfection. We have performed a vast review of the articles. The search engines included were PubMed, Medline (EBSCO & Ovid), Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus and Bio-Medical. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2009 guidelines were used for review writing. The literature review showed that many authors employed UV lamps and Light-emitting Diodes (LED) UV instruments for experimental purposes emitting radiation at a range between 254 nm and 365 nm. The online findings have shown approximately 99.9% viral inactivation. Factors such as power density of the light source, source-virus distance and time exposure to UV light played a crucial role in the final outcome. All of them have been discussed in the current work.